Silverthorn presents its customers with a one-sided contract. the customer is going to be at fault, even for Silverthorn's negligence. Some may say that if a contract is voluntary then it should be binding. But, not as a shield against tortious or even criminal negligence. When the physical safety of people on the water is at stake as a result of negligence on the part of Silverthorn mechanics, agents, and staff, Silverthorn shouldn't expect to absolve itself from any liability via the principles of contract law. But that is exactly what Silverthorn does.
Silverthorn leased me and my family a houseboat that wouldn't steer. The motorboat we leased was tied to our houseboat during orientation. When, about 15 minutes out of harbor the motorboat was no longer with us, we couldn't steer our houseboat to recover the motorboat. When we finally were able to contact the Silverthorn office the staff said in a glib tone: "well, boating is a big responsibility." I think that leasing boats and orientating the public on the correct usage of the boats is bigger.
Silverthorn advertises fairly new, well-maintained, equipment for rent. The photos show clean comfortable looking houseboats and boats. But that's not what they offer. The equipment is expensive but dirty and unmaintained. These people aren't even using blue water in their toilets. The speakers were of poor quality and most of them seemed not to be connected to the stereo at all. Bluetooth was broken, so we were stuck with two or three staticky radio stations for the duration of our voyage. The slide had a huge crack in it and the engine could not be elevated out of the water.
In spite of all this Jody's only question to me was, "have you read your contract?" and Tessa's position after weeks of thought was, "the only thing that is relevant is the contract".
I consider myself, my family, and Silverthorn lucky that no one was injured.
We had to leave for home without our security deposit. Even though there was nothing wrong with the boats that hadn't already been wrong with them, and the mechanical staff felt that the one-sided contract was intended for rowdy teenagers Jody, the staff member who handled the front office, insisted that "all these matters had to be resolved at the same time". "These matters" being the hell we went through during the first day and a half of the long weekend over which we spent on their boats.
It took, all said and done, almost a month for Silverthorn to post our security deposits back to our credit card. It was illegal for them to retain our money all this time. What's more, we were billed for the gas we used, twice. That was also illegal, obviously, but it's not worth it to me to deal with these people further than I already have.
I have been patient and polite with Mr. Reha, Jody, and Tessa, but it has been a waste of time and effort. The mechanical staff seemed like good people, but there weren't enough of them. The administrative staff are hard-headed and have a take no prisoners approach to business which seems incongruent with the hospitality business they're in.
Mr. Reha, the general manager, never once spoke or wrote. Not even responsively. Given the poor and unsafe mechanical condition of the houseboat, the wrong advice, and the ineffective tying of the motorboat to the houseboat during orientation, I requested a retroactive reduction in the cost. Although I understand the decision not to reduce the price of our trip was ultimately Mr. Reha's, throughout the course of our communications Mr. Reha only ever hid behind his office staff and their invented "facts".
Don't lease from Silverthorn. They won't stand behind their houseboats, service, or anything except their own one-sided and unconscionable contract. It's going to take a death or serious injury for them to wise up I'd wager. Because their pains in the ass to deal with too.
Lake Shasta is one of my favorite places on this Earth and I have grown up waterskiing and boating. This inaugural houseboating trip was a terrible disappointment - and frightening too. And I am not easily frightened. I can't warn against Silverthorn strongly enough. If you value your precious vacation time don't do business with Silverthorne. read more